Plasmonic wipe for photocatalytic and photothermal disinfection
A transparent wipe embedded with gold nanoparticles that inactivates pathogens on surfaces under ambient sunlight without chemicals. The reusable wipe offers a low-cost, chemical-free approach to surface disinfection for healthcare, public spaces, and consumer use.
Overview
This solution is a transparent wipe embedded with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) designed to disinfect surfaces under natural or ambient sunlight. Traditional disinfection requires spraying chemicals onto a surface and then wiping them away. This plasmonic wipe eliminates the need for chemical disinfectants entirely. When exposed to visible light, the gold nanoparticles generate localized heat and energetic electrons that work together to rapidly inactivate a broad range of pathogens. The wipe can be rinsed with tap water and reused multiple times, making it a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional chemical disinfectants.
Technical specifications
- Transparent bacterial cellulose (BC) film serves as the wipe skeleton, providing a flexible, low-cost substrate with excellent transparency for light penetration
- Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) embedded in the BC film are the active disinfection component, with a target film thickness of less than 1 mm to maximize sunlight penetration
- Localized surface plasmon resonance decay under visible light produces two complementary disinfection mechanisms: localized high temperatures (photothermal effect) and highly energetic electrons that generate reactive oxygen species (photocatalytic effect)
- Validated pathogen inactivation against E. coli and bacteriophages MS2 and PR772 under 1 Sun illumination conditions
- Material cost under $0.5 per AuNP/BC film, enabling affordable scaling for consumer and institutional use
- Reusable design — the wipe can be rinsed with tap water and reused for repeated disinfection cycles
- Chemical-free operation with no consumable disinfectants required
Technology readiness level
The core science has been validated through multiple peer-reviewed publications demonstrating AuNP photothermal inactivation of bacteria and bacteriophages, as well as hot electron-driven free radical generation under visible light. AuNPs have already been successfully incorporated into bacterial cellulose films and tested for robustness in sensing applications. The remaining development focuses on optimizing nanoparticle density and film thickness for natural sunlight conditions, followed by surface-level pathogen inactivation testing on materials such as tables and carpets. The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development, with strong proof-of-concept results and a clear path toward prototype optimization within a one-year timeframe.
About University of Wisconsin, Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is the state’s flagship public research university, a comprehensive institution with a large research enterprise and broad disciplinary breadth. Industry engages through shared instrumentation, pilot‑scale testbeds, and co-located core facilities that support prototyping and scale-up. An affiliated research and technology park hosts startups and corporate R&D, while integration with a major hospital system enables clinical translation; a statewide extension network connects campus advances to companies and communities across Wisconsin. Research is sustained by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOE, USDA, and DoD, alongside state and industry partnerships. Dedicated commercialization support—through an affiliated foundation and campus offices—provides IP management, licensing, startup mentoring, and flexible, industry-friendly agreements.
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